Manchester United defender Tim Fosu-Mensah has completed a deadline-day move to Fulham on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old will spend the 2018/19 campaign with the newly-promoted Cottagers, who beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley last season.

The move comes on the back of the versatile youngster impressing during pre-season for the Reds, as he appeared in all five of United’s Tour 2018 games in the United States and was a second-half substitute against Bayern Munich last weekend.

It will represent a second successive season out on loan for the Netherlands international, who made 24 appearances in all competitions and caught the eye during his spell at fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace last term.

With the club's pre-season commitments fulfilled, Fosu-Mensah has been allowed to leave on a temporary basis again in order to obtain regular first-team football.

The Academy product made his first-team debut as a substitute in the 3-2 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford in February 2016, in the same game Marcus Rashford scored twice on his Premier League bow.

Later that year, he signed a new contract with the club and the move will benefit the Dutchman, who can also play in midfield and has been capped three times by his country to date.

Fosu-Mensah becomes Fulham's fourth defensive signing of the summer after French left-back Maxime Le Marchand arrived from Nice, centre-back Alfie Mawson joined from Swansea City and Calum Chambers moved across the capital from Arsenal on a season-long loan.

Coincidentally, Tim could make his debut for the Cottagers when Slavisa Jokanovic's side open their Premier League campaign against London rivals Crystal Palace, where he spent last season on loan, at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Everybody at United would like to wish Tim the best of luck for the season as he becomes the sixth United man to leave on loan this summer.

Fulham consider sending Timothy Fosu-Mensah back to Man United in order to free up loan space in squad

* Timothy Fosy-Mensah has made nine appearances for Fulham so far this season
* Fulham could send Fosu-Mensah back to United to make another loan signing
* The Premier League strugglers have been linked with Chelsea's Gary Cahill

Timothy Fosu-Mensah set to stay at Old Trafford until 2021 with Manchester United ready to trigger 12-month contract extension

* Timothy Fosu-Mensah's deal at Manchester United expires next summer
* United are keen to tie him down to a new deal so will trigger his 12-month option
* The 21-year-old is currently recovering from a knee injury sustained last season

Manchester United are protecting their assets with Timothy Fosu-Mensah set to remain at the club for a further 12 months at least.

The defender's current deal at Old Trafford expires next summer, meaning he is free to speak to European clubs from January.

However, The Sun report that United are keen to keep the 21-year-old and will trigger his one-year extension clause before offering him new terms.

Manchester United are set to extend Timothy Fosu-Mensah's contract by a further 12 months. Fosu-Mensah is on the road to recovery from a serious knee injury sustained last season

Fosu-Mensah is reportedly on £20,000 per week at present and is happy to remain on those wages before seeing a rise once a fresh contract is offered to him.

The Dutchman hasn't featured this season as he continues his recovery from a cruciate knee injury sustained on loan at Fulham last season.

A source told The Sun: 'They want to box Tim off in the next couple of weeks and trigger his option.

'He's in the final year and close to coming back from injury. Ole still believes in him and rates him a lot.

'He will give him chances in next few weeks in Europa League and Carabao Cup.

'His confidence has been quite low but the extension will certainly indicate to him that he can still have a future.'

Tim Fosu-Mensah is ready to show how much he has developed since last pulling on the Manchester United shirt in the final game of the 2016/17 season.

The Dutchman, who turns 22 today [2 January], is back after loan spells with Crystal Palace and Fulham, but has had to recover from a knee operation that has kept him on the sidelines.

It has been a frustrating time for the Netherlands international as he is desperate to play for Ole and prove he can be an option in a number of positions.

Fosu-Mensah is looking to add to his 21 appearances under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, as he inches closer to making a comeback.

“I feel good,” he told us recently. “It's been a long time out but I've had great people working with me, so I feel stronger every single day.

“The whole physio staff and fitness coaches - Paolo [Gaudino], Rich [Richard Merron]; they have been working with me very well. It's been good.

“It was definitely hard, mentally,” he admitted. “I love to play football but it's part of the game. You have to be strong in the head and it's a physical sport so, obviously, these things can happen.

“I do like to watch football, though, and like to see our team and go to every game at the stadium to support the lads.

“I think I might need one or two appearances to get my fitness back in the Under-23s after being out for so long. That would help me definitely.

“Of course, what I've seen is Ole is a great manager. When I speak to him, his energy is very good and, every time I go to the game, I just like him as a person and as a manager. I would love to play for him. You want to give your all for him.”

The defender feels he has learned a lot since he last played for the Reds, following the two loan spells away from Old Trafford.

At Crystal Palace, he was a colleague of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and is pleased to be competing for a spot with his friend.

“I'm going to be 22,” he said. “I made my debut when I was 18 so time flies. It waits for no-one. I've just got to keep going and keep improving. When I think about it, it goes very quickly - it's almost four years now [since my first game].

“I think my spell at Fulham was a bit more difficult for me but I had a good time at Palace. When I was there, I became an international at the age of 19, which is also a big achievement for myself. I think it has been good for me because I'm more mature straight away and it was physically good as well.

“I played with Aaron. He made his debut when we played together in the back four against Spurs. Aaron is a good player and a very good friend of mine.

“I can play across the back four or even sitting in midfield but it's always good to have competition. That's football - it's one of the biggest, if not the biggest, clubs in the world so you expect competition in the team.”

Fosu-Mensah is clearly looking forward to the next phase of his career as he expects to be back out on the pitch soon.

“I love this club,” he enthused. “I came here when I was a kid and they took very good care of me and made me a professional player.

“It's wonderful to play for this club. I don't want this to stop.

“I'm definitely excited for the future - I think it looks very bright.”